A NEW era in relations between Southampton's port and city is being heralded.

Some of the biggest players in the local economy pledged to pull together to promote the capital of the south coast as an international port city, putting behind them tensions of the past.

More than 40 senior figures from industry and the public sector met up yesterday for what was generally regarded by them as a turning point seminar.

Southampton Port-City Futures (SPCF) was symbolically launched on P&O cruise liner Oriana in the docks.

The idea behind SPCF is to provide a "coherent voice" for port-related businesses and stakeholders, such as public bodies like the city council and regional development agency SEEDA.

Part of the plan is to make the port visitor friendly through signage and visitor attractions.

It also involves creating a vision document to help promote what the port can offer.

The springboard seminar was organised by Business Southampton, an organisation led by chief executive Sally Lynskey that promotes and sells the city to businesses.

A number of players yesterday accepted there has, historically, been "disconnect" between the ABP-owned port and the city.

Last autumn, for example, relations between ABP and city council bosses were at a low ebb after the company pulled the plug for financial reasons on a £100m development scheme at Royal Pier.

But ABP port director Doug Morrison used the seminar to draw a line in the sand over the ABP's previous isolationist stance.

He blamed ABP's past failure to engage in public debate, saying it contributed to the failure of ABP's £700m container port scheme at Dibden Bay in Southampton Water.

Community Mr Morrison told delegates: "Dibden Bay failed because we did not engage enough with the community."

He went further, saying "ABP has been arrogant, working in isolation".

Mr Morrison, who took over the helm in early 2005, also said: "There are a lot of people doing wonderful things, but it needs to be co-ordinated, and that's the challenge for us all."

He then outlined a partnership manifesto for change.

That includes freeing up land available for port-related businesses, developing a container strategy for growth that does not factor in Dibden Bay, investing to expand the cruise liners business and looking for new opportunities for business.

The port director said ABP will work in partnership with stakeholders bodies, such as the local authorities and the influential SEEDA, which has given its blessing.

ABP will also lobby for a better road and rail infrastructure, as well as improved signage for visitors.

Mr Morrison said the docks, which directly supports 12,000 jobs, is the fourth biggest in Britain, handling seven per cent of all UK trade.

It generates £2 billion worth of business each year, with some 76,000 commercial shipping movements.

He added: "The ports industry is vital to the economy of the country; let's get that message across."

City council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "The city council is strongly behind this partnership we do not have buckets of money, but we will do what we can."

He added: "Our Spinnaker Tower, if you like, are the great liners who take our name around the world."

The seminar's location was organised by Carnival, P&O's parent company, which employs upwards of 900 people in the city.